Raptor 700 vs KFX450

[12Artleye]

Hi. I am buying a new ATV and i don't know what to get. I am planning on buying one of them new and doing a ton of work. I live in PA and i don't know what to get. I live on a farm so there is a lot of wide open riding. Also i have a friend with hill climbing land and a woods track. I also have another friend that i ride with less often with his own MX Track and we make plenty of large jumps to have fun with. All my friends either have raptor 660s, Z400, 450s and 250F Dirtbikes. We are all competive so i want something that i can beat them at in those areas. Also, Reverse is important to me and that is why i chose the KFX 450

MY QUESTIONS ARE THE FOLLOWING!!!!!

1) CAN A WELL MODDED RAPTOR (Cams, intake, pipe, maybe bored, hc piston, ext.) beat the 450s and if so, in what area?

2) Is the Raptor 700 a lot better and faster than the 660? If so, how or in what ways is it better?

3) Can the Raptor be good on the Super cross track and the jumps?

4) What is the best exhaust for the Raptor? (I'm leaning towards Loony Dual Exhaust)

5) What mods are best for the raptor and what would you recommend i get? (Money not an issue, But no Stokers please)

6) How is the Maintenance on both quads?

I am leaning towards the Raptor but i am hesitant because i don't want to get blown away by my friends, but all the forums i read are about stock raptors. I want to know how a modded one will do? And how it will do in the broad range of things i ride. If This helps I am 16 5"10 and 130 lbs. I like to think i am pretty skilled on quads for i have always had one since i was 6

PLEASE HELP ME WITH THESE QUESTIONS AND FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME ANY INFO NOT PERTAINING TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOVE.

[stoopidbot]

They are both great machines. The 450's will beat the 700 in stock form. Add dual exhaust(Barker or DMC), intake kit, and a PCIII(fuel programmer) and the Raptor 700 is practically untouchable in straight out drag racing. The 700 is night and day over the 660. The 660s were good but had their quirks(liked to stand up, tippy) and the 700 is the better motor, better ergonomics, and better suspension. The Raptor is a trail quad, while it will work on the tracks, you will get smoked. (by an equal rider on a 450) The 450's are high revving machines made for the track. The 700 gets it's power in the mid range. Quick shifting is necessary.

The 450 will require more frequent oil changes than the 700 but other than that they are the same.

If I was you would get the KFX450. A modded KFX will hang with the best of them on trails, dunes, and track. The 700 will hang with the best in dunes and trails. It is out of it's element on a track. They jump just fine but they are not a track bike.

[12Artleye]

They are both great machines. The 450's will beat the 700 in stock form. Add dual exhaust(Barker or DMC), intake kit, and a PCIII(fuel programmer) and the Raptor 700 is practically untouchable in straight out drag racing. The 700 is night and day over the 660. The 660s were good but had their quirks(liked to stand up, tippy) and the 700 is the better motor, better ergonomics, and better suspension. The Raptor is a trail quad, while it will work on the tracks, you will get smoked. (by an equal rider on a 450) The 450's are high revving machines made for the track. The 700 gets it's power in the mid range. Quick shifting is necessary.

The 450 will require more frequent oil changes than the 700 but other than that they are the same.

If I was you would get the KFX450. A modded KFX will hang with the best of them on trails, dunes, and track. The 700 will hang with the best in dunes and trails. It is out of it's element on a track. They jump just fine but they are not a track bike.

Thank You for your post. It helped a lot and gives me a lot to think about. it is greatly appreciated.

[stoopidbot]

That's why were here, to help a brother out. Let us know what you choose, I love pics!!!

[Raptor700RSE]

Pretty fair post by Bot, I'd just like to add that you can do just fine on the track, its just more of a workout to swing a raptor around a track than a 450. PPL race raptor on MX just fine its just harder on the ol body. I really like the KFX's too, thinking of getting one in addition to the raptor for the track and maybe do some races.

Some pics from last weekend!

[stoopidbot]

Thanks, Like I said. The Raptor CAN run just fine on the track. But equal riders, one on a 450 and one on a 700 I would put my money on the 450.

[12Artleye]

OK. Well after more research and some of your words i have decided to get the raptor ever against the better judgment of some of you guys. I will very rarely go to a REAL public track, and if i did, it would be with some buddies to practice. I will be dragging down fields, doing jumps, climbing hills (treverton), and flying through woods so i think the Raptor is a better fit for me. I am going to really mod the raptor and probably get the LRD 727 Kit for it. Other forums say that money can make a quad talk and i have been very blessed the freedom to make an ATV talk a lot. (Not trying to be snobbish, just saying that i can put all the best and needed aftermarket parts on the raptor). With that said, I have one final question. I have decided to get the Dual exhaust. But there is no comparisions between the brands and i can't decide which to get. I looked at LTE, DMC, Barkers, Monster... What are the advantages of one or the other and which gives me the best performance. And if you want to add in which sounds the best. GO AHEAD.

[stoopidbot]

I run LTE on my Rhino. It is very loud. They claim, i believe a 17% increase. I know some guys that run Barkers and they are a very deep, throaty sound and they will never go another route. I have heard great things about DMC as well.

[Raptor700RSE]

Well barker is the only one who offers color options on the pipes, and mounts. And I think they look the best, but performance wise Barker, Monster, and DMC Force4's are about equal. The DMC's that run on each side of the quad are the good ones, they also make ones that both pipes run on the right side and the are not quite as good when getting into the mods. I think the old ones are called afterburners. I think big bore's are a waste of money on the 700.